reticulate

adjective re·tic·u·late \ ri-ˈti-kyə-lət , -ˌlāt \

Definition of reticulate

1 : resembling a net or network; especially : having veins, fibers, or lines crossing

a reticulate leaf

2 : being or involving evolutionary change dependent on genetic recombination involving diverse interbreeding populations

—

reticulately

adverb

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Though "reticulate" is used in many contexts, it finds particular use in the field of biology. "Reticulate" comes from the Latin word reticulum, meaning "small net." It first appeared in English in the mid-1600s and was used in connection with the study of plants even back then. Scientists use "reticulate" to describe a net-like formation of veins, fibers, or lines that crosses something. For example, a leaf with a pattern of veins that resembles a net would be called a "reticulate leaf."

Origin and Etymology of reticulate

Latin reticulatus, from reticulum

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First Known Use: 1658

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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reticulate

verb re·tic·u·late \ ri-ˈti-kyə-ˌlāt \

Definition of reticulate

reticulated; reticulating

transitive verb

: to divide, mark, or construct so as to form a network

municipalities that reticulate electricity to consumers

intransitive verb

: to become reticulated

Recent Examples of reticulate from the Web

By some estimates, half of all things found in grocery stores are made with the fruit of the palm oil plant, a versatile and cheap ingredient that happens to grow best in areas of the world where reticulated pythons thrive.

— cleve r. wootson jr., Washington Post, "Giant pythons keep attacking people in Indonesia — and humans might be to blame," 4 Oct. 2017
By some estimates, half of all things found in grocery stores are made with the fruit of the palm oil plant, a versatile and cheap ingredient that happens to grow best in areas of the world where reticulated pythons thrive.

— cleve r. wootson jr., Washington Post, "Giant pythons keep attacking people in Indonesia — and humans might be to blame," 4 Oct. 2017
By some estimates, half of all things found in grocery stores are made with the fruit of the palm oil plant, a versatile and cheap ingredient that happens to grow best in areas of the world where reticulated pythons thrive.

— cleve r. wootson jr., Washington Post, "Giant pythons keep attacking people in Indonesia — and humans might be to blame," 4 Oct. 2017
By some estimates, half of all things found in grocery stores are made with the fruit of the palm oil plant, a versatile and cheap ingredient that happens to grow best in areas of the world where reticulated pythons thrive.

— cleve r. wootson jr., Washington Post, "Giant pythons keep attacking people in Indonesia — and humans might be to blame," 4 Oct. 2017
By some estimates, half of all things found in grocery stores are made with the fruit of the palm oil plant, a versatile and cheap ingredient that happens to grow best in areas of the world where reticulated pythons thrive.

— cleve r. wootson jr., Washington Post, "Giant pythons keep attacking people in Indonesia — and humans might be to blame," 4 Oct. 2017
By some estimates, half of all things found in grocery stores are made with the fruit of the palm oil plant, a versatile and cheap ingredient that happens to grow best in areas of the world where reticulated pythons thrive.

— author: cleve r. wootson jr., Alaska Dispatch News, "Giant pythons keep attacking Indonesian people – and people might be to blame," 5 Oct. 2017
Two of Africa's multiple giraffe populations, the Nubian and reticulated, were already in serious decline when drought and turmoil struck East Africa.

— jane qiu, Science | AAAS, "Surge in wildlife killings is wiping out giraffes," 22 June 2017
The two species in the direst straits are the northern and reticulated giraffe species.

— National Geographic, "Africa May Have New Giraffe Species—And This Could Help Protect Them," 8 Sep. 2016

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'reticulate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of reticulate

back-formation from reticulated, adjective, reticulate

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First Known Use: circa 1728

in the meaning defined at transitive sense

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reticulate

Definition of reticulate

reticulately

reticulate was our Word of the Day on 12/31/2015. Hear the podcast!

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Origin and Etymology of reticulate

reticulate

Definition of reticulate

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Origin and Etymology of reticulate

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reticulate

Definition of reticulate

reticulately

reticulate was our Word of the Day on 12/31/2015. Hear the podcast!

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Origin and Etymology of reticulate

reticulate

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Origin and Etymology of reticulate

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